MEDICAL ALERT JEWELRY CANNOT STAND ALONE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/01/2023

Greencastle, Indiana.  A google search for “medical alert bracelets” or “medical identification tags” yield many resources for obtaining these items, with assurances that they will protect the wearer.  But this is not always the case.  In complex or emergency medical situations, it depends upon the situation and current Indiana law.  

When is medical identification jewelry helpful?  Most emergency responders are trained to look for medical identification jewelry worn as a necklace or bracelet.  Emergency medical information can also be made available on a person’s phone.  This information can be helpful when identifying allergies or medical diagnoses that could explain a person’s condition or provide guidance for medical care.

When is medical identification jewelry not helpful?  Medical information jewelry, tattoos, or other indications of a patient’s wishes not to be resuscitated or intubated cannot legally be honored unless there is also the presence of a legally signed medical order such as Indiana’s Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate (OOH-DNR) form or the Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form.  The jewelry may alert emergency responders that such medical orders may exist, but without the actual physical presence of a signed medical order itself, emergency responders must legally provide all medical care in accordance with standards of care for the person’s situation. 

In addition, it is important to note that a “living will” or other type of document stating a patient’s healthcare preferences not to be resuscitated are not legally valid and cannot be honored.  While such documents are an indication of your wishes, Indiana law requires a medical order signed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to withhold treatment in an emergency.   

So what should a seriously ill or frail person do if they do not wish to receive certain medical procedures?  The bottom line is that if a person is medically qualified for either the OOH-DNR or the POST medical order, and wishes not to receive certain life prolonging treatments, the person must ensure these documents are available at all times and in all locations in case of an emergency. 

Here is a helpful checklist to ensure your healthcare wishes not to receive certain types of treatments can be honored:

  • Complete the paperwork to legally choose your healthcare representative(s) with legally required signatures on an Indiana Advance Directive form.
  • Talk with your physician to see if you are eligible to have a medical order such as the OOH-DNR or the POST.
  • If you are eligible for these medical orders, have your physician (or physician assistant or nurse practitioner) complete the appropriate form, with required signatures.
  • Make copies of your medical orders and your Indiana Advance Directive form.
  • Give copies of these documents to your healthcare representative, family members, healthcare providers, and caregivers. Keep originals in a safe place.
  • Get your free Vital Medical Information File and put copies of all your vital medical information and these documents inside the bright red magnetic envelope and hang it on your refrigerator. This is especially important for persons living alone.
  • Keep the Vital Medical Information File envelope with you when leaving your home.

To get your free Vital Medical Information File, contact the Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 765.301.7614.  

The Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association (PCHPCA) seeks to enhance the quality of life for the terminally ill, their loved ones, and caregivers, by educating the Putnam County community about the benefits of hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning.   PCHPCA is a nonprofit, public charity, and operates with the help of donations, financial support from the Putnam County Community Foundation, and fiscal sponsorship by the Putnam County Hospital. For more information contact Elaine Peck, Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.pchpca.org.

Contact information:
M. Elaine Peck, Director
Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association
1542 South Bloomington Street
Greencastle, IN 46135
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.